Abstract
The mRNA expression of the LH-β and FSH-β subunits were measured in nesting and post-breeding male three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculetaus, as well as in castrated and sham-operated nesting males. Furthermore, expression of an androgen induced kidney protein, spiggin, and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) levels, were measured in the castrated and sham-operated males. Nesting males had significantly higher levels of both LH-β and FSH-β mRNA expression compared to post-breeding males. Furthermore, sham-operated males had significantly higher levels of LH-β mRNA and spiggin mRNA expression than the castrated fish. Expression of FSH-β, on the other hand, did not differ between castrated and sham-operated males. There were strong positive individual correlations between circulating levels of 11KT on the one hand and expressions of LH-β and spiggin mRNA, whereas the correlation between 11KT levels and FSH-β mRNA was weak. The negative effect of castration on β-LH mRNA indicates that gonadal hormones stimulate this expression, whereas this was not the case for β-FSH. The observed decline in β-LH expression after the end of the breeding season may be the result of cessation of the gonadal stimulation of the pituitary. On the other hand, it is not likely that this can explain the decline in FSH-β expression.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Antonopoulou, E., Mayer, I., Borg, B., Swanson, P., Murza, I. and Christoforov, O. 1999a. Effects of testosterone on gonadotropins, testes, and plasma 17á,20â-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one levels in postbreeding mature Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, male parr. J. Exp. Zool. 284: 425–436.
Antonopoulou, E., Bornestaf, C., Swanson, P. and Borg, B. 1999b. Feedback control of gonadotropins in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, male parr. I. Castration effects in rematuring and nonrematuring fish. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 114: 132–141.
Antonopoulou, E., Swanson, P., Mayer, I. and Borg, B. 1999c. Feedback control of gonadotropins in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, male parr. II. Aromatase inhibitor and androgen effects. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 114: 142–150.
Billard, R. 1978. Testicular feedback on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.). Ann. Biol. Anim. Biochim. Biophys. 18: 813–818.
Borg, B. 1982. Seasonal effects of photoperiod and temperature on spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characters in the threespined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. Can. J. Zool. 60: 3377–3386.
Borg, B., Paulson, G. and Peute, J. 1985. Stimulatory effetcs of methyltestosterone on pituitary gonadotropic cells and testes Leydig cells of the three-spined stickleback, Gasterostus aculeatus L., in winter. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 62: 54–61.
Borg, B. Antonopoulou, E., Andersson, E., Carlberg, T. and Mayer, I. 1993. Effectiveness of several androgens in stimulating kidney hypertrophy, a secondary sexual character, in castrated male treespined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Can. J. Zool. 71: 2327–2329.
Borg, B., Antonopoulou, E., Mayer, I., Andersson, E., Berglund, I. and Swanson, P. 1998. Effects of gonadectomy and androgen treatments on pituitary and plasma levels of gonadotropins inmature male Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, parr – Positive feedback control of both gonadotropins. Biol. Reprod. 58: 814–820.
Crim, L.W., Peter, R.E. and Billard, R. 1981. Onset of gonadotropic hormone accumulation in the immature trout pituitary gland in response to estrogen or aromatizable androgen steroid hormones. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 44: 374–381.
Dickey, J. and Swansson, P. 1998. Effects of sex steroids on gonadotropin (FSH and LH) regulation in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). J. Mol. Endocrinol. 21: 291–306.
Gen, K., Okuzawa, K., Senthilkumaran, B., Tanaka, H., Moriyama, S. and Kagawa, H. 2000. Unique expression of gonadotropin-I and-II subunit genes in male and female red seabream (Pagrus major) during sexual maturation. Biol. Reprod. 1: 301–319.
Huang, Y.S., Schmitz, M., Le Belle, N., Chang, C.F., Quérat, B. and Dufour, S. 1997. Androgens stimulate gonadotropin-II β-subunit in eel pituitary cells in vitro. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 131: 157–166.
Jakobsson, S. Borg, B., Haux C. and Hyllner S.J. 1999. An 11-ketotestosterone induced kidney-secreted protein: the nest building glue from male three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 20: 79–85.
Jones, I., Lindberg, C., Jakobsson, S., Hellqvist, A., Hellman, U., Borg, B. and Olsson, P-E. 2001. Molecular cloning and characterization of spiggin, an androgen-regulated extraorganismal adhesive with structural similarities to von Willebrand factor-related proteins. J. Biol. Chem. 21: 17857–17863.
Larsen, D.A. and Swanson, P. 1997. Effects of gonadectomy on plasma gonadotropins I and II in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 108: 152–160.
Mayer, I., Borg, B. and Schulz, R. 1990a. Seasonal changes in and effects of castration/androgen replacement on the plasma levels of five androgens in the male three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 79: 23–30.
Mayer, I., Berglund, I., Rydevik, M., Borg, B. and Schulz, R. 1990b. Plasma levels of five androgens and 17α-hydroxy-20β-dihydroprogesterone in immature and mature male Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) parr, and the effects of castration and androgen replacement in mature parr. Can. J. Zool. 68: 263–267.
Melamed, P., Gur, G., Elizur, A., Rosenfeld, H. and Yaron, Z. 1997. The mRNA levels of GtH Iβ, GtH IIβ and GH in relation to testicular development and testosterone treatment in pituitary cells of male tilapia. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 17: 93–98.
Rebers, F.E.M., Tensen, C.P., Schulz R.W., Goos, H.J.T. and Bogerd, J. 1996. Modulation of glycoprotein hormone α-and gonadotropin II β-subunit mRNA levels in the pituitary gland of mature male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 17: 99–108.
Schulz, R.W. 1985. Measurement of five androgens in the blood of immature and mature male rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri (Richardson). Steroids 46: 717–726.
Sohn, Y.C., Yoshiura, Y., Kobayashi, M. and Aida, K. 1999. Seasonal changes in mRNA levels of gonadotropin and thyrotropin subunits in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 113: 436–444.
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. 1995. Tri-reagent Technical Bulletin MB-205.
Xiong, F., Liu, D., Le Dréan, Y., Elsholtz, H.P. and Hew, C.L. 1994. Differential recruitment of steroid hormone response elements may dictate the expression of the pituitary gonadotropin IIâ subunit gene during salmon maturation. Mol. Endocrinol. 8: 782–793.
Yaron, Z., Gur, G., Melamed, P., Rosenfeld, H., Levavi-Sivan, B. and Elizur, A. 2001. Regulation of gonadotropin subunit genes in tilapia. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 120: 489–502.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hellqvist, A., Schmitz, M., Lindberg, C. et al. LH-β and FSH-β mRNA expression in nesting and post-breeding three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, and effects of castration on expression of LH-β, FSH-β and spiggin mRNA. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 25, 311–317 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023210407163
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023210407163